Cool MateNotorious vs Renowned
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Notorious
Top 5,000 (fairly common)C1adjective
Renowned
FormalTop 3,000 (common)C1adjective
Most formal: RenownedMost common: Renowned
| Notorious | Renowned | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/nəʊˈtɔːriəs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/nəʊˈtɔːriəs/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈnaʊnd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈnaʊnd/"]/ |
| Meaning | Famous for something bad | Well-known and respected. |
| Example | a notorious criminal | a renowned author |
| Register | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | notorious for, notorious criminal, notorious behavior | renowned author, renowned scientist, renowned artist, renowned for achievements, renowned institution |
| Antonyms | unknown, obscure, unfamous | unknown, obscure |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'famous' which can be positive., Often used incorrectly with 'to be notorious of'., Mixing up the meaning with 'infamous'. | Confused with 'renown' (the noun form)., Using 'renowned' in informal situations., Mixing up 'renowned' with similar-sounding but incorrect words. |
| Usage notes | Use 'notorious' when referring to someone or something widely known for a negative reason. Avoid in positive contexts. | Use 'renowned' in formal contexts to describe someone or something that is famous and respected. It's not appropriate for casual conversations. |
Frequently asked questions: Notorious vs Renowned
What's the difference between Notorious and Renowned?
Notorious: Famous for something bad Renowned: Well-known and respected.
Which is more formal: Notorious and Renowned?
Renowned is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Notorious and Renowned?
Renowned is the most common in everyday English.
Are Notorious and Renowned the same CEFR level?
Notorious: C1, Renowned: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Notorious and Renowned?
Notorious: adjective, Renowned: adjective.
Can you show an example of each?
Notorious: a notorious criminal Renowned: a renowned author
Can I use Notorious and Renowned interchangeably?
Not always. Notorious and Renowned are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.